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INTROD  UC  TOR  Y 


Decay  of  the  teeth,  defects  in  the  nose,  throat  and  ears, 
were  not  always  as  common  as  they  are  to-day.  Of  every 
thousand  children  examined,  more  than  half  of  them  will 
he  found  to  have  one  or  more  decayed  teeth,  and  a large 
number  will  have  adenoids,  large  tonsils  and  defective  hearing. 
Few  men  and  women  have  perfect  teeth,  unobstructed  noses 
and  throats  and  sharp  hearing. 

We  do  not  know  just  why  or  just  when  these  defects  in 
the  teeth,  nose,  throat  and  ears  began  to  appear;  they  probably 
came  when  man  left  the  coarse  food,  pure  air  and  freer  life 
of  the  fields  to  dwell  in  cities.  No  one  can  tell  us  whether 
the  children  of  old  sufiered  from  adenoids  and  large  tonsils, 
but  we  do  know  that  in  Egypt,  more  than  four  thousand 
years  ago,  decay  of  the  teeth  was  as  rare  as  decay  of  the  bones. 

T 0 help  in  the  work  for  better  teeth,  to  instruct  patents 
and  others  in  the  care  of  children's  teeth  as  well  as  their 
own,  to  insure  children  against  the  diseases  that  frequently 
come  to  them  because  of  adenoids  and  large  tonsils,  the 
Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  Company  presents  this  booklet 
to  its  policy-holders  and  to  the  public. 


Copyright,  1912 

By  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  Co. 


Teeth— Tonsils— Adenoids 


By  GEORGE  W.  GOLER,  M.  D. 

Health  OfiScer,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 


THE  TEETH 

The  Baby’s  Teeth. — If  you  look  at  the  baby’s  jaw  before 
it  has  any  teeth,  you  will  see  that  its  gums  are  pink  and 
thin.  Look  again  when  the  baby  is  five  or  six  months  old, 
or  perhaps  a month  or  two  older.  Just  where  the  two 
lower  front  teeth  are  to  come  in  you  will  see  that  the  gum 
just  over  the  tooth  is  swelling  a little.  In  a few  days  the 
top  part  of  the  gum  over  the  tooth  will  grow  soft  and  let 
the  tooth  come  through.  Baby  now  has  a tooth.  Soon 
it  will  have  another  tooth  right  alongside  of  the  first  one. 
In  this  way  all  of  the  first  teeth  will  come  through  the 
baby’s  jaw  about  the  time  shown  in  the  table. 

ERUPTION  OF  TEETH 
First  or  Temporary  Teeth 

The  lower  teeth  usually  come  in  two  or  three  months  before  the  upper  teeth. 


Front  teeth 5 to  9 months 

Side  teeth  and  first  chewing  teeth  or  molars ....  12  to  18  months 

Eye  or  cuspid  teeth 16  to  20  months 

S^ond  chewing  teeth  or  molars 20  to  24  months 

Second  or  Permanent  Teeth 

First  chewing  teeth  or  molars 5 to  6 years 

Two  middle  front  teeth 6 to  8 years 

Two  side  front  teeth 7 to  9 years 

First  bicuspids 9 to  10  years 

Eye  teeth 11  to  12  years 

S^ond  molars 12  to  13  years 

Third  molars,  or  wisdom  teeth 7 to  21  years 


The  Outside  of  a Tooth. — This  is  how  a tooth  looks 
when  cut  in  two : The  white  part  of  a tooth  that  you  see  in 
the  mouth  is  the  crown.  The  crown  is  connected  by  a 
neck  to  a root,  which  holds  the  tooth  firmly  in  the  jaw. 
The  neck  of  the  tooth  is  just  below  the  gum  and  is  narrpwer 


2 


teeth— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


than  the  crown.  The  tooth 
very  hard,  like  ivory.  The 


Tooth  Cut  in  Two  Lengthwise. 


is  made  of  dentine  and  is 
dentine  is  covered  on  the 
outside  by  harder  enamel, 
thicker  on  the  biting  edge 
where  the  tooth  gets  the 
most  wear. 

Inside  of  a Tooth. — 

Inside  of  the  tooth  there  is 
a hollow  space  for  blood 
vessels  and  nerves,  which 
enter  the  tooth  from  the 
end  of  the  root. 


Toothache.— When  you  get  toothache,  something  has 
made  your  tooth  decay.  It  is  this  which  causes  the  ache. 

What  Makes  Teeth  Decay. — Two  things  make  teeth 
decay.  First,  sickness  in  childhood,  like  scarlet  fever, 
diphtheria,  measles,  whooping-cough  and  other  diseases. 
Such  diseases  make  the  teeth  decay  by  weakening  the 
body  and  softening  the  teeth. 

Second,  when  the  teeth  are  not  kept  clean  and  smooth 
they  get  rough  and  dirty.  Food  gets  into  the  rough  and 
dirty  parts  of  the  teeth  or  in  between  the  teeth,  where  it 
ferments,  forms  acid  and  injures  the  enamel. 


What  Happens  if 
the  Teeth  are  Not 
Cared  For. — Should 
food  collect  on  the 
teeth  or  between 
them,  the  acid  that 
is  formed  works 
through  the  enamel 
and  into  the  ivory. 

Sometimes  this  happens  on  the  crown  of  the  tooth; 
sometimes  on  the  neck  of  the  tooth  under  the  gum; 


Decay  Beginning  in  the  Teeth, 


teeth— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


3 


sometimes  down  near  the  root  of  the  tooth.  A dark 
spot  begins  to  show;  the  tooth  decays,  and  a little  hole 
is  made  in  the  enamel  or  dentine.  Food  and  then  germs 
from  the  mouth  get  into  the  little  hole  in  the  tooth  and 
the  hole  gets  bigger  and  bigger.  Then  toothache  begins, 
because  the  nerves  in  the  tooth  are  being  irritated  by 
the  fermenting  food,  the  acid  and  the  germs. 


What  Toothache  Means. — The  tooth  is  trying  to  tell 
that  it  has  not  been  given  the 
right  kind  of  care.  If  pain  in 
the  tooth  is  not  heeded  the 
hole  grows  larger,  the  pain  gets 
harder,  the  tooth  bleeds,  air 
gets  into  the  hole  in  the  tooth 
and  makes  the  pain  worse  by 
irritating  the  nerves  in  the 
tooth,  a gum-boil  may  form 
and  the  tooth  may  die. 


Holes  in  Six-year  Molars. 


What  Happens  Because  of  Toothache. — Pain,  loss  of 
sleep,  loss  of  temper,  loss  of  work,  indigestion,  bad 
breath,  are  the  results  of  toothache. 


How  to  Prevent  Toothache. — Keep  your  child  strong- 
and  well.  Don’t  let  it  catch 
children’s  diseases.  Don’t  neg- 
lect your  child’s  teeth.  Take 
care  of  your  own  teeth  too. 
Follow  the  directions  in  this 
booklet.  Look  at  the  table  on 
page  1.  Has  the  child  all  of 
the  teeth  for  its  age?  If  not, 
ask  a good  dentist  why  not. 
Six-year  Molars.  Count  yOUr  child’s  teeth.  Be 

careful  to  see  that  the  child  at  six  years  of  age  has  its 
six-year  molars. 


4 


TEETH— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


Keep  All  of  the  Teeth  in  the  Jaw. — The  six-year 
molars  are  the  first  of  the  second  set  of  teeth  They  are 
four  in  number,  two  in  each  jaw.  Took  at  the  picture 
and  see  what  happens  to  the  child  if  it  loses  even  one 
of  these  four  teeth.  See  if  there  are  any  holes  in  these 
teeth.  Have  the  teeth  plenty  of  room  in  the  jaw?  See 


What  Happens  to  the  Teeth 
When  the  Six-year  Molar 
IS  Pulled  Out. 

that  they  are  not  crowded;  that  they  do  not  overlap  one 
another.  Are  they  in  line  in  the  arch  or  curve  of  the  jaw? 
Are  the  teeth  clean?  Does  your  child  chew  its  food  well 
before  it  swallows  it?  Chewing  food  will  help  to  make 
good,  strong  jaws  and  strong,  beautiful  teeth. 


Teeth  in  Line  in  the  Arch  oe  Jaw. 


Before  Going  to  Dentist. 


After  Going  to  Dentist  . 


teeth— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


5 


What  to  Do  if  the  Teeth  are  Irregular  and  Decayed. — 

Save  the  teeth.  Every  tooth  pulled  out  causes  more 
wear  and  work  to  be  put  on  the  other  teeth.  Never  pull 
a tooth  if  you  can  help  it.  Save  it.  Just  as  soon  as  you 
have  read  this  booklet,  look  at  the  teeth  of  every  member 
of  your  family.  Look  at  them  with  a small  looking- 
glass  that  you  can  put  in  the  mouth.  Wash  the  looking- 
glass  in  soap  and  water  after  using  it  upon  each  person. 
If  there  are  holes  in  the  teeth  or  they  need  cleaning,  go  to 
a dentist — go  to  the  best  dentist 
you  can  find.  Do  not  go  to  an 
advertising  dentist  or  doctor. 

First  and  Second  Teeth. — 

A child  has  a first  set  of  teeth 
to  prepare  the  way  for  a second 
set.  The  first  set  makes  a 
kind  of  scaffold  to  keep  the 
jaw  wide  apart,  so  that  when 
the  jaw  grows  there  will  be  room 

enough  for  the  bigger  set  of  theth  Thhough-seco™ 

teeth.  Coming  Through. 


Good  Teeth  are  Jewels. — This  second  and  last  set  of 

teeth  are  worth  more 
to  the  child  than  much 
gold  or  many  jewels; 
they  are  its  pearls. 
Treasure  them  like  the 
jewels  they  are.  You 
can’t  always  put  much 
money  in  the  savings 
bank  for  your  child; 
but  you  can  save  all  of 
its  teeth,  and  they  are 
worth  more  to  it  than  much  money.  Good  teeth  will  help 
to  keep  the  child  well,  and  health  is  far  better  than  wealth. 


Child’s  Upper  Jaw. 


6 


teeth— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


Temporary  Filling. — If  there  is  a spot  or  hole  in  ohe 
of  the  teeth,  give  it  the  best  treatment  you  can.  Even 
though  you  have  not  much  money,  go  to  the  best  dentist — 
the  best  is  the  cheapest  in  the  end.  If  you  have  not  much 
money,  ask  the  dentist  to  put  in  a temporary  filling  of 
cement  or  amalgam,  which  looks  like  silver.  This  cement 
or  amalgam  filling  will  keep  the  tooth  from  decaying  for 

some  time.  Then,  as  soon  as 
you  can,  get  a gold  filling  or 
porcelain  inlay;  even  though 
it  costs  much  money,  have  the 
better  filling  put  in  the  tooth. 

When  the  Teeth  are  Irregu- 
lar.— Ask  the  best  dentist  what 
to  do.  Begin  with  the  child  as 
early  as  possible.  The  earlier 
you  begin  the  easier  it  will  be 
to  straighten  the  teeth. 

Straight  Teeth. — Even  if  you  are  grown  up  you  can 
have  crooked  teeth  straightened.  The  dentist  will  tell 
you  how.  The  jaw  and  face  may  have  been  stunted,  the 


Jaw  with  Crowded  and 
Irregular  Teeth  . 


Round  Jaw.  Hatchet  Jaw. 


body  weakened;  but  still  the  teeth  can  be  straightened 
and  the  whole  appearance  of  the  face  changed  for  the 
better  and  the  health  improved. 

The  Baby’s  Teeth. — Just  as  soon  as  the  teeth  come, 
wipe  them  night  and  morning  with  a soft  cloth  wet  in 
water  just  salty  to  the  taste. 


TEETH— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


7 


A Baby’s  Tooth-brush. — Get  a baby  tooth-brush  and 
brush  the  baby’s  teeth;  brush  them  front  and  back. 
Remember  that  the  back  of 
the  teeth  ought  to  have  just 
as  much  attention  as  the 
front.  Brush  the  teeth  up 
and  down,  even  more  than 
across,  so  that  the  tooth- 
brush may  get  in  between 
the  teeth.  Get  a looking- 
glass,  as  near  like  the  den-  ^ upper  jaw. 

tist’s  looking-glass  as  you  can,  lay  it  back  of  the  teeth. 
Hold  a looking-glass  in  front  of  your  face  and  see  if  the 
back  of  the  teeth  is  just  as  clean  as  the  front.  Watch  the 
teeth.  Once  a week  look  at  the  jewels  you  are  saving  for 

the  baby.  See  that 
no  spot  comes  upon 
them,  no  holes  come 
in  them.  Just  be- 
cause they  are  so 
fine  and  beautiful, 
do  not  neglect  to 
care  for  them.  Beau- 
tiful jewels  receive  great  care;  so  should  the  pearls  in 
the  mouths  of  your  children.  N 


Time 


Baby’s  Tooth-brush. 


Chew  Food  and  Have  Strong  Teeth. — The  teeth  and 
jaws  will  not  be  strong  and  well  unless  you  teach  the  child 
to  chew  its  food. 


How  to  Brush  the  Teeth. — Even  the  savage  brushed 
his  teeth  with  a stick  for  a tooth-brush.  Brush  the  teeth. 
Brush  them  carefully.  Spend  at  least  a minute  in  brushing 
them — when  you  get  up  in  the  morning  when  you  go  to 
bed  at  night.  Divide  up  the  minute,  and  be  sure  and  give 
at  least  part  of  it  to  the  back  of  all  of  the  teeth,  especially 


8 


teeth— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


the  lower  ones  that  lie  just  behind  the  tip  of  the  tongue. 
If  you  want  to  preserve  your  teeth  very  well,  and  wish  to 

keep  from  wearing  “false” 
teeth,  brush  them  after 
meals  also.  Get  a brush, 
neither  too  soft  nor  too 
hard,  dip  it  in  salt  and 
water,  or  use  some  good 
tooth  powder.  Don’t  spend 
all  of  the  minute  in  brush- 
ing just  across  the  teeth, 
but  give  the  brush  a little 
quarter  turn,  so  that  the 
bristles  will  get  in  between 
the  teeth.  Brush  from  the 
gums  toward  the  biting 
edge  of  the  teeth.  Wash  the  tooth-brush  after  using  it 
and  hang  it  up  to  dry. 

Rinse  Out  Your  Mouth. — After  brushing  yoiir  teeth 
be  careful  to  rinse  yoiu*  mouth  well  with  plenty  of  pure 
water.  Take  a swallow  of  water,  and  with  your  teeth 
closed  force  it  back  and  forth  between  the  teeth;  spit  out 
the  water. 

If  the  Gums  Bleed. — If  you  find  that  on  brushing  the 
teeth  the  gums  bleed,  go  straight  to  a dentist,  because 
you  are  having  the  beginning  of  a disease  that  will  cause 
your  teeth  to  fall  out. 

How  to  Clean  the  Spaces  Between  the  Teeth. — A 
tooth-brush  and  powder  alone  are  not  enough  to  clean 
the  teeth.  You  must  have  either  dental  floss  or  a small 
rubber  band.  Night  and  morning,  but  at  least  every 
night,  pass  a piece  of  dental  floss  between  the  teeth  to 
get  out  all  the  food  that  has  lodged  there.  It  is  the 


By  permission  Dr.  M.  H,  Fletcher,  Cincinnatii 


TEETH— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


9 


decaying  tooth  or  the  fermenting  food  between  the 
teeth  that  makes  the  breath  smell  badly. 

Dental  Floss. — Dental  floss  is 
a coarse  silk  thread  made  espe- 
cially for  use  in  cleaning  between 
the  teeth.  Use  it  gently  so  as 
not  to  bruise  or  injure  the  gums. 

Rubber  Bands  Cheaper,  But 
Not  as  Good. — If  you  cannot  get 
dental  floss  use  a small  rubber 
band,  such  as  the  druggists  put 
around  small  packages.  Stretch 
the  rubber  band  and  pull  it  gently 
between  the  teeth.  Be  careful 
not  to  pull  it  down  hard  on  the 
gum  so  as  to  make  it  bleed  or  brushing  between  the  Teeth. 
hurt  it. 

Tartar  on  the  Teeth. — Look  at  the  back  part  of  the 
lower  front  teeth — those  which  lie  against  the  tip  of  the 
tongue — you  may  see  a dark  substance,  known  as  tartar, 
upon  the  teeth.  If  you  clean  the  teeth  and  use  dental 
floss  or  a rubber  band  between  the  teeth,  you  will  do 
much  to  prevent  this  collection  of  tartar,  and  you  will 
do  much  to  prevent  your  teeth  from  decaying.  If  pos- 
sible, go  to  a dentist  at  least  twice  a year,  and  have  your 
teeth  cleaned.  The  dentist  will  scrape  the  tartar  off  the 
crowns  and  around  the  necks  of  the  teeth. 

Prevent  the  Teeth  from  Decaying  and  Getting  Loose. 
— By  cleaning  the  tartar  off  the  teeth  the  dentist  will 
prevent  your  teeth  from  getting  loose,  especially  if  you 
join  with  him  and  keep  your  teeth  clean  by  daily  brush- 
ing and  by  the  use  of  dental  floss  or  the  elastic  band. 
Such  care  of  the  teeth  will  prevent  them  from  falling 
out;  will  prevent  the  oncoming  of  “Riggs  Disease,” 


10 


TEETH— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


which  makes  the  teeth  loose — the  looseness  usually  begin- 

Keep  Your  Own 
Teeth  Until  You  Are 
Old. — This  is  the 
care  you  are  to  give 
the  teetn  of  your 
child  and  your  own 
teeth.  You  should 
remember  that  clean 
teeth  and  a beauti- 
ful, clean  mouth, will 
do  much  to  make  you  friends,  and  help  you  and  your 
child  to  get  on  in  the  world.  The  care  of  your  teeth  will 
preserve  you  from  toothache  until  a ripe  old  age.  It 
will  prevent  the  wearing  of  “false”  teeth;  it  will  help 
your  digestion ; it  will  help  you  to  be  well,  to  be  success- 


ning  in  the  two  lower  front  teeth. 


Riggs  Disease. 


Before  Going  to  Dentist. 


After  Going  to  Dentist 


ful  in  your  business.  Such  care  of  the  teeth  will  enable 
you  to  wear  the  beautiful  white  crowns  of  your  own  teeth, 
and  not  the  gold  crowns  of  the  dentist.  Gold  crowns  are 
going  out  of  fashion;  but  the  white  crowns  of  beautiful 


teeth— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


Jl 


teeth  firmly  fixed  in  healthy  gums  in  a setting  of  red  lips 
will  never  go  out  of  fashion. 

Tooth-powder. — It  is  not  necessary  to  use  tooth- 
powder.  Water  made  salty  to  the  taste  is  good  en<^'t\gh, 
or  plain  precipitated  chalk  and  water  will  answer.  If  you 
want  a tooth-powder,  go  to  a druggist  and  get  it  in  quan- 
tity. There  is  no  tooth-powder  nor  any  tooth-brush 
that  will  do  your  teeth  good  if  you  let  the  powder 
remain  in  the  bottle  and  the  tooth-brush  hang  on  a nail. 
If  you  want  a good  tooth-powder,  buy  the  following 
articles  and  mix  them  according  to  directions. 

How  to  Make  Tooth-powder: 

Powdered  chalk 1 lb.  (costs  about  20c.) 

“ Castile  soap 3 oz.  ( “ “ 10c.) 

“ sugar 2 oz.  ( “ Ic.) 

“ orris  root 2 oz.  ( “ “ 10c.) 

Take  all  of  these  substances  and  mix  them  together 
on  a large  sheet  of  paper,  stirring  them  about  with  a table 
knife,  and  holding  up  first  one  side  of  the  paper,  then 
the  other,  until  all  the  powder  is  thoroughly  mixed. 
Then  put  it  through  a flour  sieve.  You  will  thus  be  able 
to  make  a poimd  and  a half  of  tooth-powder  for  about 
forty  cents. 


12 


teeth— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


TONSILS—ADENOIDS 


Adenoids  and  Large  Tonsils, — When  your  child  is 
two  years  old,  and  the  teeth  have  all  come  in,  look  at  its 
nose. 

Look  at  Your  Child’s  Nose. — Does  its  nose  run?  Is 
its  nose  sore?  Does  it  snuffle  much?  Does  it  have  fever 
sores  or  eczema  around  its  nose  and  mouth  ? Are  the 
eyes  red?  Is  it  dull?  Does  it  stand  and  look  at  you 
with  its  mouth  open?  Does  it  put  its  hand  to  its  head 
as  if  it  had  earache?  Does  your  child  sleep  with  its 
.mouth  open?  Does  it  snore? 

Mouth  Breathers. — If  your  child  does  any  of  these 
things  it  is  a mouth  breather.  Take  it  to  your  doctor 


A FouR-YEAK-OLn  Boy 
Whose  Face  is  De- 
formed EY  Mouth 
Breathing. 


The  Same  Boy  at  Five 
Years,  After  One 
Year’s  Treatment 


and  ask  him  ii  it  has  adenoids  or  large  tonsils.  Mouth 
breathing  in  children  is  nearly  always  caused  by  adenoids. 
Axdenoids  should  always  be  removed. 

Where  Adenoids  Grow, — Adenoids  grow  from  the 
baci.  part  of  the  throat  where  the  nose  and  throat 
join.  Adenoids  are  shaped  like  a little  head  of  cauli- 


TEETH— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


13 


flower,  colored  red.  They  hang  from  the  back  part  of 
the  nose  and  stop  it  up  and  make  the  child  breathe 
through  its  mouth. 

Breathing  Through  the 
Mouth  Not  the  Right  Way. — 

When  air  is  taken  through 
the  mouth  much  dust  and 
many  more  germs  are  taken 
into  the  body  than  when  air 
is  taken  through  the  nose. 

Adenoids  and  Earache. — 

Children  with  adenoids  often  have  earache.  Notice  if 
your  child  complains  of  earache.  Whether  a little  matter 
does  not  come  from  his  ear.  Does  he  hear  well?  Don’t 
always  blame  him  if  he  is  slow — perhaps  he  is  deaf.  Ear- 
ache often  means  that  the  child  has  adenoids.  Adenoids 
should  be  removed.  Earache  always  means  that  the  child 
is  in  danger  of  getting  deaf.  Earache  always  means  that 
the  child  is  in  danger  of  getting  a running  ear.  A run- 
ning ear  is  always  dangerous,  for  the  child. may  get  brain 
fever  from  it.  A running  ear  should  always  be  treated 
by  an  ear  doctor;  it  will  not  get  well  without  good  care. 
It  may  make  the  child  deaf. 

Large  Tonsils. — Have  the  child  open  its  mouth,  press 
its  tongue  down  with  the  handle  of  a spoon  and  see  if 
the  tonsils  stick  out  into  the  throat,  especially  when 
you  press  with  the  finger  on  the  outside  of  the  jaw  two 
inches  below  the  ear,  just  where  the  jaw  begins  to  turn 
forward. 

Look  at  its  nose  and  see  if  one  nostril  is  not  smaller 
than  the  other.  Is  your  child’s  nose  stuffed  up?  Teach 
the  child  to  blow  its  nose,  one  side  at  a time. 

Is  the  child’s  upper  lip  short?  When  it  sleeps,  is  the 
upper  lip  pulled  back  so  as  to  show  the  front  teeth?  See 


Tonsils  and  Adenoids. 


14 


TEETH— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


if  there  are  not  {some  little  lumps  in  the  neck,  just  back  of 
the  ear.  These  are  enlarged  glands.  They  always  mean 
that  there  is  some  poison  or  irritation  in  the  nose,  throat, 
ears  or  teeth,  which  should  be  removed  at  once  if  you  wish 
to  keep  the  rest  of  the  body  well.  Adenoids  and  large 
tonsils  stop  up  the  nose  and  throat  so  the  child  cannot 
breathe  or  smell  properly;  they  cause  the  glands  to 
enlarge  from  overwork. 

Adenoids  and  Large  Tonsils  Cause  Rheumatism  and 
Heart  Disease. — Large  tonsils  and  adenoids  hold  poison- 
ous germs  which  may  be  carried  by  the  blood  to  the 
heart  and  cause  heart  disease;  or  to  the  joints  and  cause 
rheumatism.  The  germs  in  the  tonsils  and  adenoids  are 
also  carried  to  other  parts  of  the  body  and  cause  other 
sicknesses.  They  may  prevent  the  body  from  growing, 
and  prevent  the  face  and  jaws  from  growing,  so  that 
many  children  with  adenoids  and  large  tonsils  have  poor, 
little  bodies,  and  faces  which  look  like  babies’  faces. 

It  is  Hard  for  Children  with  Adenoids  to  Learn. — 

Children  with  adenoids  do  not  feel  well.  They  are  often 
scolded  for  being  slow  in  learning  their  lessons  when 
they  cannot  see  or  hear  properly.  They  cannot  smell 
because  their  noses  are  stuffed  up.  They  are  sometimes 
suffering  from  pains  in  the  joints;  from  beginning  heart 
disease  or  from  enlarged  glands.  They  are  unable  to 
learn  or  work,  because  their  bodies  are  being  slowly 
poisoned  by  the  germs  in  the  large  tonsils  and  adenoids 
and  the  germs  about  decayed  or  dirty  teeth.  The  germs 
from  dirty  teeth,  adenoids  and  diseased  tonsils  are  carried 
into  the  stomach^with  food  and  drink  and  may  also  be 
carried  to  the  lungs,  and  may  cause  stomach,  bowel  or 
lung  diseases. 

Easier  for  a Child  with  Large  Tonsils  and  Adenoids 
to  “Catch”  Diseases. — A child  with  crooked,  decayed 


teeth— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


15 


teeth  and  diseased  tonsils  and  adenoids  has  a much 
greater  chance  of  getting  diphtheria,  scarlet  fever,  measles 
and  whooping-cough. 

When  such  a child  gets 
any  of  these  diseases,  it 
has  the  disease  a great 
deal  harder  than  a child 
which  has  had  its  tonsils 
and  adenoids  taken  out. 

Large  tonsils  and  ade- 
noids make  good  places 
for  disease  germs  to  grow 
in,  and,  therefore,  a sick 
child  does  not  get  well  of 
the  disease  as  soon  as  a 
healthy  child.  The  sick 
child  with  large  tonsils 
and  adenoids  has  much 
more  catarrh  in  the  nose 
and  throat  than  a healthy 
child.  The  glands  in  the  neck  and  in  other  parts  of  the 
body  have  to  enlarge  to  help  to  carry  off  the  poison 
when  the  disease  is  severe.  If  your  child  is  sick  be  very 
careful  to  see  that  its  mouth  is  kept  clean  so  that  danger- 
ous germs  may  not  be  carried  into  the  body. 

How  to  Tell  When  a Child  Has  Adenoids  and  Large 
Tonsils. — If  the  child  takes  cold  easily  and  has  sore  throat 
often,  or  if  it  complains  of  earache;  or  if  it  is  hard  for 
it  to  breathe  through  its  nose,  the  tonsils  and  adenoids 
should  be  taken  out  at  once — no  matter  what  the  child’s 
age.  Don’t  wait,  thinking  they  will  get  better.  It  is 
dangerous ! For  the  child  may  lose  its  hearing  in  twenty- 
four  hours  and  never  get  it  back. 

The  Best  Time  to  Have  Them  Removed. — Tonsils 
and  adenoids  can  be  removed  at  any  time  of  the  year — the 


16 


teeth— TONSILS— ADENOIDS 


child  will  not  “catch  cold.”  Most  of  the  harm  done  by 
tonsils  and  adenoids  is  done  during  the  first  six  or  eight 
years  of  the  child’s  life.  Be  very  watchful  for  the  danger 
signals — mouth  breathing  and  earache. 

Teeth,  Tonsils  and  Adenoids,  and  the  Growth  of  the 
Face  and  Body. — ^When  a child  is  bom  it  usually  weighs 
seven  to  eight  pounds  and  measures  about  one  and  one- 
half  feet  in  length.  At  one  year  of  age  it  should  weigh  at 
least  18  to  20  poimds,  nearly  three  times  as  much  as  it 
did  at  birth,  and  measure  28  to  30  inches;  nearly  twice 
as  much  as  at  birth.  At  5 years  of  age  a boy  or  girl 
should  weigh  about  40  pounds  and  be  at  least  40  inches 
high.  Before  a child  is  one  year  old  it  should  have  two 
lower  front  teeth  and  two  upper  front  teeth ; before  it  is 
two  years  old,  it  should  have  all  of  its  first  teeth. 

Now  is  the  time  to  watch  your  baby  grow.  When  it 
is  a baby  weigh  it  every  week.  When  it  gets  to  be  two 
years  old  weigh  it  every  month.  Every  time  you  weigh 
the  baby  look  at  its  teeth;  see  that  no  spot  comes  on 
them ; no  holes  in  them.  See  that  the  eyes  are  not  red. 
Be  sure  the  ears  are  not  mnning,  even  a very  Httle.  Be 
sure  that  your  child  has  neither  adenoids  nor  large  tonsils. 
If  your  child  weighs  enough  and  measures  enough  for  its 
age;  if  its  teeth  are  clean;  if  it  chews  its  food  well  and 
has  a good  appetite;  if  it  breathes  through  its  nose;  if  it 
hears  well  and  its  ears  have  never  “mn,“  then  you  may 
be  sure  you  have  a good,  healthy  child.  Take  care  of 
the  child’s  health  and  teach  it  to  take  care  of  its  health 
all  through  life. 


9 


m 


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9 


The  Light  That  Never  Fails 


